Tag: Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino National Forest, California

I’m learning a lot of lessons out here in California. Many that I wish could’ve waited. Many showing me how flying by the seat of your pants and not reading things thoroughly can bite you in the ass. Usually it doesn’t really get to me. I tend to roll with it. I tend to make decisions and stick with them, good or bad. But somehow there is a pause I was meant to learn here.

After moving Zoe into her studio, I wanted to get away for a bit. To allow her the time to settle. To get out of each other’s way for a break. And to explore a new area, since that was another reason for me to be here.

I randomly looked up Airbnbs that were affordable for a three night stay. I still wasn’t feeling well and thought getting my own space may help me to sleep more soundly and get the rest I needed. I booked a place at Big Bear Lake, while eating breakfast. Didn’t really even know how far away it was but knew I had a car and time.

I headed up there on Monday, President’s Day, a weird random national holiday that for some reason my company observes. Going to check out on Thursday, to get back to Zoe’s place since I knew she had the Image Awards to attend to. I wanted to make sure someone was going to be at her place to keep unpacking and being able to receive any furniture deliveries in route.

Driving up it was a sunny California day. Bright and happy. I was loving the palms with the mountains next to the colorful flowers. Picture perfect nature.
I stopped and filled my gas tank which put me into a bit of sticker shock. I am thankful to be renting a fuel efficient hybrid car. There are a ton of Tesla’s on the roads out here and I can understand why.
The entrance to the mountain. Hwy 18. I was excited to be seeing another national forest.
I took my time and pulled over wherever there was availability, courtesy allowing any locals who weren’t impressed by the scenery, to pass me.
There was bumper to bumper traffic coming down the mountain. I was smug with myself booking during the week, avoiding the weekend rental cost increases and crowds.
As I kept climbing I kept finding myself in awe of the views.
The entire drive up was one sharp 20 MPH curve after another along the edge of the two lane road. Nerve wracking to drive so I was thankful for the breaks.
It was fun to see some families enjoying the snow as if they had never experienced it before. They were touching it and kids were laughing.
Was truly pissed to see how humans spray painted the rocks here. I mean why? So sad the lack of respect and appreciation. I believe this is when we reached about 2000 feet altitude.
I watched a group start hiking down this trail and thought it would be fun to do maybe one evening after work. The confusing part was there was no parking anywhere along the streets, so they must have walked from their place nearby.
Crystal and I started hitting bumper to bumper traffic right as we entered the city limits by the lake.
Tried to see from Life360 how far apart Zoe and I now were.

On Tuesday, I texted a guy that I work with who lives in LA to see if we could meet for lunch while I am visiting out here, and he said probably better if we arrange a date after the storm passes through. I questioned, “what storm”.

Then Wednesday I got a text from my friend Susan who used to live out in California, but who is now appropriately back in NYC, who sent me a link to a huge winter storm warning for the mountains I was now in. I can see how not watching the news can be an issue at times like these. I texted my Airbnb to ask if there was concern and they said just be sure to buy tire chains. I was like….hmmmm- not going to do that. But then Susan informed that its the law and you were required to have them on in certain conditions in the mountains.

So, off I went to find tire chains. I had no idea what I was doing. I went to AutoZone, a familiar auto brand store and there was a line already with every person buying just that. Two ladies in front of me told me to go take a photo of my tires so they knew the proper size. Then I asked them if they knew how to put them on and they said no, but they were going to “you tube it”. That sounded right. I asked if they were alone and they said yes. They were also planning to leave on Thursday.

It was fun seeing fellow women out there braving it. Thinking we can handle such crisis. Gave me confidence. Only exception is they were wearing full snow suits and I didn’t even pack gloves.

I drove to at least see the lake before the snow fell. I found a nature reserve and took a few photos.
Clouds were quickly rolling in and the wind chill was dropping fast. Thought best to get my butt back to the Airbnb for the night with my 200$ chains in the passenger seat.
It was eerie seeing the clouds start swallowing the mountains.
The visibility kept getting worse on the drive back. At this time, I was thinking I was smart not to try to drive down the mountain tonight.
I watched from my dead end street cabin window as the snow started to accumulate.
It was picturesque with the icicles. It only looked to be about 8″ on the ledge. I am from northern Ohio, I got this right?
This is what I encountered on the morning I needed to leave. Luckily the Airbnb provided a shovel. My coworker, Chelsea, suggested I put socks on my hands since I didn’t have any gloves. That worked for a bit. Then eventually became sopping wet and freezing. I kept jumping into my car and warming up.
I had to drag a full sized suitcase up this hill which actually has steps below. At one point my foot sunk and the snow came all the way up to my knee. I had to grab onto the handrail to pull myself over the wall.
Was a cute place to stay.

After shoveling for 1.5 hours and trying to move my car, which did not budge a bit, I decided to convince the Airbnb to let me stay. They wouldn’t. Claiming they had new tenants coming up the mountain that night. Good luck to them! I couldn’t even get my car out of the parking space.

I decided to call a tow truck. One company charged 900$ minimum. Then I remembered I had AAA. Thank God that works everywhere in the USA. They hooked me up. The tow truck arrived but could barely make it down my road and then admitted they couldn’t get me out.

I was told to call another tow requesting a certain type of truck That was going to be an even longer wait than the 2.5 hours I just waited. I was at my wits end. But I called and got in the que.

Totally reminded me of Findlay winter high school days. No proper clothes. Just layers.
I want you to know I tried SO HARD to appreciate the beauty. I snapped a few photos, but my heart wasn’t in it. I honestly didn’t know how I was going to ever get out of my situation alive. 🙂
Trying to look up’ physically and metaphorically.

I started texting a few Airbnbs nearby to see if they would lower their rates for me to stay the weekend, IF I could get there. Then hearing the snow was supposed to get worse on Saturday I really just wanted to get down the hill.

I saw a man, obviously local not tourist, snow blowing out some driveways. I approached him and asked advise. He came over and said my parking spot was in a drop and no way I would get out without chains. I told him I had chains if he could put them on. So he did. I paid him 40$ cash. (just guessing what would be a decent thank you amount) He then brought his snowblower over and another shovel and finished digging me out. I told him I was waiting for another tow. He said they wouldn’t be there for another 3 hours. He asked if I would allow him to try to drive the car out. Absolutely! And he did!

I cried, hugged him, and asked if he’d take Venmo. He of course did and I sent another 100$. I asked him if he thought I could make it down the mountain. I was literally scared to death. He said take it slow and I’d be fine.

Never driven with these before. The guy that sold them told me not to use them on pavement ever. So….there’s that. Not sure what I was going to do once I reached the bottom of the mountain and need to get onto a highway to LA.
They had an officer positioned where you had to stop and he checked if you had chains and then waved you on. You could not see the road. It was completely white and the snow was blowing across off the trees and mountains. I only snapped these photos when I felt safe.
So excited to see some tire tracks and a car to follow. I will say the chains were miraculous. I never slid.
Again, may have been able to appreciate how beautiful it all was, if I wasn’t driving in this situation.
And then just like that (after 1 hour of 15 MPH) the landscape changed. I thought, people down here have NO idea what’s up there.

As soon as I started to question if I should be removing my chains, there was an entire police blockade where people were pulled over putting on chains to go up. So I pulled over and asked a guy to help take mine off and he said, okay for 20$. Thank goodness I had one more 20 in my wallet. Thank you George for teaching me to always have cash while travelling.

As I drove to LA there was a beautiful hole in the clouds.
Then a rainbow as I hit the city. I took a deep breath and thanked God and asked him to be great to that guy up the mountain who saved me.
I felt safe.

But as I pulled down the road two homeless men jumped out into the street and were fighting right in front of my car. The one had a knife and was stabbing, or attempting to stab the other. I didn’t know what to do, so I honked my horn and it must have triggered the knife holder to jolt back to reality and he ran away. Then the one left behind in his purple jogging suit got up and dropped his back pack and all the contents spilled out.

I’d love to end by saying I got out of my car and helped him. But I didn’t. I failed that test. Call it instinct. Call it my nerves were already shot. I don’t know. I wish I can do better. Help more people when challenged. Maybe awareness is just the beginning.